BASEBALL

Dusty Blake

Dusty Blake was named the Pfeiffer baseball coach on July 30, 2012, which represented his second stint in the Falcons’ dugout. Blake previously served as the team’s assistant coach in 2005.

Despite taking over a young team that featured 17 underclassmen and was picked to finish seventh in the Conference Carolinas in 2013, Blake guided Pfeiffer to 18 wins and an 11-11 conference record, earning the Falcons a fourth-place finish. Under Blake’s leadership, Jon Gray was named First Team All-Conference after hitting .354 and leading the conference with 12 home runs. The Falcons led the conference in home runs, hitting 46 long balls and the pitching staff was second in fewest walks allowed with 135.

In his second season at the helm, Blake guided the Falcons to its biggest win total since the 2009-10 season. Blake's squad finished the season with a 26-23 overall mark and a 13-7 record in Conference Carolinas. Third basemen Tyler Summers and pitcher Ethan Greene were selected to the First Team All-Conference and Pfeiffer placed seven total players on the First and Second Teams.

Prior to arriving at Pfeiffer, Blake handled all operations for USC Upstate for the 2012 season, including managing the pitching staff, recruiting, practice planning, and strength and conditioning. Under Blake’s guidance, the Spartans improved its team ERA, allowed 180 fewer runs, won 33 games on the season, decreased their walk total by 100 and increased their strikeouts by 100. Blake also mentored Scott DeCecco who went on to be a 22nd round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners.

Blake also served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Wofford Terriers from 2008-2011. He was responsible for the development of pitcher John Cornely, a 15th round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves. The Terriers pitching staff posted its lowest batting average against since the 2000 campaign and its team ERA was the best mark since 1985 under Blake’s direction.

Blake spent two seasons as the pitching coach at Catawba College from 2006-07. During the 2006 season, the Indians led the South Atlantic Conference with 49 wins, a 3.44 earned run average, and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

In the summer of 2007, Blake served as the head coach of the Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League.

Blake’s coaching career began as the pitching coach and outfield instructor for the Falcons for the 2005 season. He also serves as Pfeiffer’s Assistant Athletic Director and was selected as a member of the Baseball for Life advisory board. The group goes into Charlotte and repairs fields, provides equipment and gives free clinics to inner-city kids.

Blake earned his Bachelor’s and played baseball at Appalachian State from 1999-2003. He also earned a Master’s in Organizational Change and Development from Pfeiffer.

Dusty and his wife, Amy, currently reside at Lake Tillery with their daughter, Mia.